Can the 'Love Hormone' ease pain? small study tests oxytocin
NCT ID NCT04431206
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether a single IV dose of oxytocin, a natural hormone, could reduce pain from heat on the skin. It included 7 people — some healthy and some with severe knee arthritis. Researchers measured pain scores during a 5-minute heat test. The study was terminated early, so results are limited.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
oxytocin
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a new way to manage pain using a natural hormone.
What could go wrong
This was a very small, terminated Phase 2 study with only 7 participants. It only measured pain from brief heat on the skin, not real-world arthritis pain. The results may not apply to broader populations.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Wake Forest Baptist Health
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States